Chapter Updates ~ 5 November 2007

Howdy one and all,

First... I'd like to welcome all the new members to Storm Mountain. There are a few names I've added to the list that were in the IDOS database as Storm Mountain Chapter members that I just now found out about. And, we have had a few more people sign up recently. All of the chapter members are listed on the Contacts page of the Storm Mountain Chapter website: http://stormmtn.phpnet.us/contacts.htm

On the bottom of the Contacts Page, I have added a Google map that has icons of chapter members and their locations. None of these icons point to the actual home address of any members but they are near the city location for that member. The exception is for Trikke SLC. The pin does point to their location because it is a business. Chapter members icons are green, chapter cook-off icons are yellow.

And, there are a few members with IDOS membership renewals coming up... and a few (7) that have exipred IDOS memberships. You can pay me at the next event, send me a check payable to IDOS, or I have a paypal account set up for the chapter. Or, if you send your payments directly to IDOS, let me know so I can update our records.

I guess with all that said, I should include that if you don't want to be a member of Storm Mountain, let me know and I'll remove your name from the mailing list. But who wouldn't want to belong to such an awesome chapter??

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Next... The Storm Mountain Chapter Cook-Off / DOG event is only 12 days away. This is a chapter only cook-off to qualify a team and nominate a team for next year's WCCO. Because of this, all teams need to be members of the chapter and currently active with IDOS. IDOS rules will apply. Contact me with any questions before the event.

I don't really need recipes until the week of the event... let's say Wednesday, 14 November. Feel free to send them any time you'd like, but they aren't required until that Wednesday. I will print these to hand out to others. For those cooking for the DOG event, I can include your recipes if you want.

The entry fee for this cook-off is $10, payable the morning of the event. What isn't used to cover costs of the cook-off will be given to the chapter.

I have a few prizes, but I'm not contacting too many people for gift items for this event. I want to save my begging for the Lehi cook-off next year. If anyone wants to donate items for prizes, I'll gladly accept them. Thanks to Terry for donating an item already. Instead of saying "this item is for first place, this item is for second"... I'm going to let the first place team pick and item, then the second place team pick an item, etc until we run out. This might blow up in my face, but I'll try it for this event.

Here is the webpage that details this event... http://stormmtn.phpnet.us/cook_offs/Chapter_07/index.htm

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As of right now, the chapter cook-off / DOG event is the last planned event until next year. I didn't think anyone would be that interested in doing a DOG event in December, but if anyone wants to plan one, I'll promote it.

A few of you have contacted me with ideas for DOG events for next year. I wouldn't mind getting these events planned and scheduled. I would really like to be able to announce an upcoming DOG event at all of our cook-offs and DOG events. And, I think it would be cool to have a couple of themed DOG events... Mexican, Asian, chili, etc.

Kent Mayberry has mentioned doing a breakfast DOG. I think this is an awesome idea. Maybe a camping DOG the night before? Those that don't want to camp can show up for breakfast? Possibly in the early spring? Awesome idea.

Terry Lewis has mentioned we can have a DOG event on his family's property in Tabiona, UT. It would be nice to step away from the cities and head east for an event.

I am going to contact someone from Oquirrh Mountain and see if we can join them for one of their monthly DOG events. I like combining these DOG events and getting to know our neighbors.

There is the Camp Chef DOG event... usually in June I think. And, I will have a DOG in Lehi a week or two before the Lehi Rodeo Round Up Cook-Off. The Cook-Off will be on 28 June.

Shawn Conlin will put on his annual FEKA DOG event later in the fall.

Kent has mentioned doing a Thanksgiving DOG event next year. The idea is to have chapter members do a demo for the different dishes for Thanksgiving... and offer a dinner to help raise money for the chapter. A few can demo desserts, a few can demo potatoes, side dishes, breads, etc, and a few can demo cooking a Dutch Oven Turkey. If we are good with our scheduling, all these dishes will be done by a specific time and the general public will be able to purchase these Thanksgiving meals. What a great way to promote Dutch Oven cooking, teaching the public our tips and tricks, and raising money for the chapter at the same time. Great idea! I know Colleen Sloan does a Turkey Demo every year on National Turkey Day at the General Army Navy Store in SLC... maybe we can join up with them?

If anyone knows of any indoor locations for the upcoming winter months, I'd be interested in hearing about them!

I'm not sure if the annual Klondike is in the works for next January, but it might be nice to support it.

So... We already have many DOG events in the works. If anyone wants to host a DOG event, or has any suggestions for locations, feel free to contact me so we can start planning these things!

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If you have or know of ANY cook-offs, Demos, DO Classes, or DOG events scheduled for next year, PLEASE let me know so we can start getting them posted, published, advertised, promoted, etc. I would very much like to see the chapter support more Demos next year. I know that Kristen is working on getting a list of all the upcoming cook-offs for 2008. I would like to help her in any way I can.

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If you've read this far down... thanks!